Wrecking+Ball+-+Studio+Sessions

include component="page" page="content_legendott" editable="1" wrap="1" code Commercially Released: March 6, 2012 Produced by: Ron Aniello with Bruce Springsteen Recording Engineer: Ross Peterson, Ron Aniello, Rob Lebret, Clif Norrell, Toby Scott Recorded at: Stone Hill Studio code

Part One - Wrecking Ball Session Overview

Following the conclusion of 2009's //Working On A Dream// Tour, Springsteen started to work on new material. It appears that "We Take Care Of Our Own" was among the earliest of the new songs to be written, in late 2009 / early 2010. "Shacked And Drawn" and "Rocky Ground" followed soon after. Springsteen has said that these three songs "came along for almost a gospel album package I was thinking about." Bruce has indicated that he wrote 30-40 songs in this period.

Initially, his focus was on solo material; "just me and a guitar singing these songs", as Bruce put it. The subject matter of these songs was similar to the overall tone of //Wrecking Ball// - greed, corruption and the current state of America. In January 2011 he started to work with producer Ron Aniello and the focus moved away from a solo album: "Then Ron brought a large library of sound that allowed me to explore – like maybe a hip-hop drum loop or country-blues stomp loop. The actual drums came later. There was no preconceived set of instruments that needed to be used, I could go anywhere, do anything, use anything. It was very wide open." While the album utilises loops, all the instruments are real - there are no computer generated instruments on the album.

Unlike the previous two albums that were recorded with the E Street Band, //Wrecking Ball// features an extensive list of guest musicians. In fact, there are only three songs that feature the E Street Band - "Wrecking Ball", "Land Of Hope And Dreams" and the bonus track "American Land". The rest see Springsteen and Aniello accompanied by Sessions Band members, choirs, strings and horns. Roy Bittan and Garry Tallent do not appear at all, and Steve Van Zandt only lends vocals to two tracks. At present it is unclear exactly how and when the album was recorded, hopefully this will become clearer in the future. Aniello has said that four songs were cut from the album. "American Man" is likely one of these, "American Skin (41 Shots)" may be another, so at least two titles remain unidentified.

Please note that Ron Aniello has stated that the album credits are "a mess", and any errors will be fixed for future re-issues. The information below is based on the current album credits and, as such, will contain the same errors.

Part Two - Wrecking Ball Sessions Details

Notes: the first song written for the album and the first single from the album, released digitally on January 19th 2012. Features Springsteen on vocals, guitars, banjo, piano, organ, drums, percussion and loops and Ron Aniello on some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, drums and/or loops. Soozie Tyrell, Patti Scialfa and Lisa Lowell provide backing vocals. The New York Chamber Consort contribute strings. Notes: features Springsteen, Ron Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops), Steve Jordan (percussion), Soozie Tyrell (violin & backing vocal), and backing vocals by Patti Scialfa, Lisa Lowell, Michelle Moore, Antoinette Savage, Corinda Carford, Tiffeny Andrews, Soloman Cobbs and Lilly Brown. Notes: among the earliest of the songs written for the new album. Features Springsteen, Ron Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops, plus backing vocals), Matt Chamberlain (drums & percussion), Charlie Giordano (piano, B-3 organ), Curt Ramm (trumpet, cornet), Clark Gayton (trombone), Stan Harrison (clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax), Ed Manion (tenor & baritone sax), Dan Levine (alto horn, euphonium), Art Baron (euphonium, tuba, sousaphone, penny whistle), Soozie Tyrell (violin & backing vocal) and backing vocals from Patti Scialfa, Lisa Lowell, Cindy Mizelle, Ross Peterson and Clif Norrell. The recording includes excerpts of "Me And My Baby Got Our Own Thing Going" originally recorded by Lyn Collins in 1972. Cindy Mizelle probably re-recorded the vocal. Notes: features Springsteen, Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops), Tom Morello (electric guitar), Curt Ramm (trumpet, cornet), Clark Gayton (trombone), Stan Harrison (clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax), Ed Manion (tenor & baritone sax), Dan Levine (alto horn, euphonium), Art Baron (euphonium, tuba, sousaphone, penny whistle), Soozie Tyrell (violin), the New York Chamber Consort (strings) Notes: features Springsteen, Ron Aniello (some combination of bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and /or loops, plus backing vocals), Matt Chamberlain (drums & percussion), Kevin Buell (drums & backing vocal), Charlie Giordano (piano, B-3 organ), Rob Lebret (backing vocals), Art Baron (euphonium, tuba, sousaphone, penny whistle), Soozie Tyrell (violin) and backing vocals from Ross Peterson and Clif Norrell (backing vocal).The recording includes excerpts of "The Last Words Of Copernicus", an old folk poem performed by The Sacred Harp Singers and recorded by Alan Lomax in 1959. Notes: features Springsteen, Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops), Tom Morello (electric guitar), Soozie Tyrell (violin & backing vocal), Patti Scialfa (backing vocal) and Lisa Lowell (backing vocal). Notes: features Springsteen, Ron Aniello (some combination of bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops, plus backing vocals), Max Weinberg (drums), Charlie Giordano (piano, B-3 organ), Rob Lebret (electric guitar, backing vocals), Curt Ramm (trumpet, cornet), Clarence Clemons (saxophone solo), Soozie Tyrell (violin & backing vocal) and backing vocals from Patti Scialfa, Lisa Lowell, Ross Peterson, Clif Norrell and Steve Van Zandt (uncredited). The New York Chamber Consort provide the strings. Probably written in September 2009 and premiered on September 30th 2009, performed as a tribute to the soon-to-be-demolished Giants Stadium. Notes: features Springsteen, Ron Aniello (some combination of bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops, plus backing vocals), Matt Chamberlain (drums & percussion), Marc Muller (pedal steel guitar), Greg Leisz (banjo, mandola, lap steel), Curt Ramm (trumpet, cornet), Rob Lebret (backing vocals), Clark Gayton (trombone), Stan Harrison (clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax), Ed Manion (tenor & baritone sax) and backing vocals from Ross Peterson and Clif Norrell. Notes: among the earliest of the songs written for the new album. Springsteen has stated it was originally written for a movie. Features Springsteen, Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops), Charlie Giordano (piano, B-3 organ), Curt Ramm (trumpet, cornet), Clark Gayton (trombone), Stan Harrison (clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax), Ed Manion (tenor & baritone sax), Dan Levine (alto horn, euphonium), Art Baron (euphonium, tuba, sousaphone, penny whistle), Michelle Moore (backing vocal) and the Victorious Gospel Choir. The recording includes excerpts of "I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord", a traditional gospel song performed by Congregation Of The Church Of God In Christ and recorded by Alan Lomax in 1942. V2 is the 'modern mix' released on Springsteen's official website in June 2012. Notes: features Springsteen, Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops), Charlie Giordano (piano, B-3 organ), Curt Ramm (trumpet, cornet), Clark Gayton (trombone), Stan Harrison (clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax), Ed Manion (tenor & baritone sax), Dan Levine (alto horn, euphonium), Art Baron (euphonium, tuba, sousaphone, penny whistle), Clarence Clemons (saxophone solo), Soozie Tyrell (violin & backing vocal), backing vocals from Patti Scialfa, Lisa Lowell and Michelle Moore, and the Victorious Gospel Choir. Steve Van Zandt is uncredited, but clearly audible at times. Written in 1999 for the Reunion Tour and premiered in concert the same year. Notes: The officially released V2 features Springsteen, Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops), Max Weinberg (drums), Charlie Giordano (piano, B-3 organ), Greg Leisz (banjo, mandola, lap steel), Darrell Leonard (trumpet, bass trumpet), Soozie Tyrell (violin) and Patti Scialfa (backing vocal). V1 is the first version of the track recorded, with a faster Ramones style arrangement. Max Weinberg mentioned this take during an interview with Dave Marsh prior to the Apollo show in March 2012. Notes: features Springsteen, Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops), Charlie Giordano (accordion), Rob Lebret (backing vocals), Soozie Tyrell (violin & backing vocal), Patti Scialfa (backing vocal), Lisa Lowell (backing vocal), Ross Peterson (backing vocal), Clif Norrell (tuba & backing vocal), Clif Norrell (backing vocal), Jeremy McCoy (bass violin), Dan Shelly (bassoon) and Mark Romatz (contra bassoon). Included as a bonus track with some editions of the album. Notes: features Springsteen, Ron Aniello (some combination of guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion and/or loops, plus backing vocals, percussion and hurdy gurdy), Max Weinberg (drums), Charlie Giordano (piano, B-3 organ & celeste), Rob Lebret (backing vocals), Soozie Tyrell (violin & backing vocal), Ross Peterson (backing vocal), Clif Norrell (backing vocal) and Steve Van Zandt (mandolin and backing vocal) and Art Baron (sousaphone & penny whistle). Included as a bonus track with some editions of the album. Premiered live at Madison Square Garden during 2006's Seeger Sessions tour. Notes: in an interview, producer Ron Aniello has stated that "American Man" was the title of a song recorded for the album. However, it did not make the final cut. At this point this is the only known outtake from //Wrecking Ball//, although many others likely exist. Notes: Ron Aniello stated in an interview that "American Skin (41 Shots)" was recorded during the //Wrecking Ball// sessions, but ultimately was not used.

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